We also need to learn a thing or two about self-reliance in the future
RAWALPINDI: We have an interesting culture of launching projects, industries, schemes, new organisations, etc. with fanfare and celebrations and expect benefits which may or may not materialise. Many examples from the past bear this out. Now, we are busy celebrating the fabulous benefits to be derived from the Chinese investment of $46 billion without knowing all relevant details of the schemes that the Chinese will be investing in. Provinces are complaining about the change in route of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor without knowing the economic benefits it will provide to the areas it will pass through.
For example, the Lahore-Islamabad motorway was projected and celebrated as a great source of economic progress with there being prospects of industrial zones coming up along the motorway. As for the ‘prosperity’ that this fenced motorway has brought to the population living along the motorway route during the last 20 years can be asked of those who lost their fertile land to this construction. In addition, numerous shortcuts between villages on the route on either side of the motorway were lost because of the fencing. A relatively small percentage of vehicular traffic benefits from this motorway as most still use G T Road and inter-district roads to travel between towns.
Chinese investment should be welcomed but our local experts in various specialties should also be asked to examine the projects. We also need to learn a thing or two about self-reliance in the future. Obviously, this is not meant to question the intentions or ability of Chinese friends.
M Akram Niazi
Published in The Express Tribune, April 27th, 2015.
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